Aim of this study was to determine characteristics and correlation between basic anthropometric and spirometric parameters in athletes of different sports and non sportsmen. Measurements were conducted on 140 male and female athletes: volleyball, basketball, soccer, handball players, runners, VESLACI and 60 non sportsmen, 30 female and 30 male. All measurements were conducted in the Laboratory for functional diagnostics at the Department of Physiology, Medical School, Novi Sad. BMI values were normal for all athletes except in handball players, whose average BMI was 25.70+/-2.35 2 kg/m . Average values of body fat percent (BF %) were significantly higher in female athletes, the lowest values were measured in female runners (determined by both methods anthropometry, bioimpedance), while in the group of male athletes the highest body fat was found in basketball players. Statisticaly significant gender difference was found for all anthropometric parameters. Athletes have significantly lower values of BMI and BF% compared to non sportsmen, and males compared to females. Those gender differences are the result of sex determined diferences in body fat distribution, and different length of sports activities. BMI is not a good predictor of body fat content in athletes, because it's high values indicates masculinity rather than fatness. Spirometric parameters show significantly higher values in athletes of both sexes, because ventilatory function is expected as an effect of chronic adaptation on training. Correlation differences between anthropometric and spirometric parameters can be explained by the age differences in our participants and the length of their sports activities.